CROSS COUNTRY

Five of the Area's Best to Join Women's Cross Country Team for 2012 Season

August 6, 2012

MISENHEIMER, N.C. - The Pfeiffer University Women's Cross Country team is pleased to announce the signing of five student-athletes for the 2012-13 year. The freshmen join a team that returns three of its top four finishers from a year ago. Running for the Lady Falcons will be Trista Byers (West Iredell HS), Alexandra Crouch (Ledford HS), Janna Featherstone (Grey Stone Day), Cori Newton (Scotland Co. HS) and Maia Black (Highland Tech).

Head Coach Scott Nolt is very excited about this year's team. "We have a talented group of women returning for us, and I can’t say enough about the confidence I have in these freshmen as student-athletes," remaked Nolt.

Byers was four-time team MVP for cross country at West Iredell where she set the school record for the 5k as well as the 1600m and 3200m in track. She was a four-time All-Conference runner, and conference Runner of the Year her senior season. Byers was also Student Body President, and the recipient of the Presidential Scholarship at Pfeiffer for academics.

Crouch was a three-time MVP at Ledford, three-time All-Conference, three-time regional qualifier and conference Runner of the Year her senior year. She was an honors student at Ledford, a member of BETA Club, and was awarded the academic University Scholarship at Pfeiffer.

Featherstone was all-county, all-conference, and all-region at Gray Stone Day. Competing for a state championship every year and finishing as high as third, Featherstone was a state champion on the 4x800m relay track team. Featherstone was the President of the National Honor Society at Gray Stone and was awarded the very prestigious Honors Scholarship at Pfeiffer.

Newton was a four-sport athlete at Scotland County High School where she not only excelled in cross country and track, but was an outstanding softball pitcher. Newton joined the cross country team her junior year and was All-Conference both her junior and senior seasons. This spring, while pitching for her softball team, Newton also set the school record in the 3200m. Newton was awarded the Presidential Scholarship for her academic achievements.

Black excelled at three sports at Highland. While being a three-time MVP for her cross country team and an All-County and All-Conference selection, she also was an All-Conference basketball player and standout softball player. Maia also excelled academically at Highland Tech in their technology focused curriculum and was awarded the Presidential Scholarship at Pfeiffer.

"Each one has had an outstanding high school cross country and athletic career, each one has shown leadership on her team and in her school or community, and each one has had an outstanding academic career. We look forward to the leadership these ladies will contribute to the campus and classrooms of Pfeiffer."

The 2012 season for Pfeiffer Cross Country is slated to begin on Friday, August 31st at the Eye Opener Invitational in Spartanburg, South Carolina.